| The future car, lets say a 2025 model will be a | | | | incorporate multiple single use airbags in one |
| very different machine to its present day | | | | position or reusable airbags which can be inflated |
| Grandfather. They will be packed with computers | | | | several times. Some manufacturers use a |
| and safety devices ensuring that not even a stunt | | | | dynamic headrest in some high-spec models, |
| driver can crash, and they will run on carbon | | | | these move forward during a collision to stop the |
| dioxide and emit strawberry scented oxygen. Well | | | | head snapping back quite so far and reducing the |
| they might. | | | | chance of spinal injury (whiplash. |
| Predictions of future vehicles are usually wildly | | | | It has been found that a vehicles bumper and |
| inaccurate, by now we should all have space | | | | frame height is a very important factor when it |
| programs to rival NASA based out of our | | | | comes to safety during a collision, if a vehicle has |
| backyard. However some of the automobile | | | | bumper which is too high it can override the |
| related cutting edge technology emerging now | | | | bumper of the other vehicle and plough directly |
| may well make it into production models of the | | | | into the passenger compartment putting the |
| future. But how much of this technology will be | | | | occupants at severe risk. Accidents like this |
| needed or even wanted? Car design of the | | | | usually occur when a average size car collides with |
| present is already influenced by politicians, | | | | a truck or SUV, this mismatch can be avoided by |
| bureaucrats, health and safety regulations and | | | | having adjustable ride heights on the larger |
| emissions regulations and the stunning concept | | | | vehicles, when they are on a smooth road |
| seen at the motorshow emerges into the world | | | | lowering the vehicle to a suitable height would |
| as a 1.0 litre shopping cart, but at least its legal. | | | | reduce the dangers normally associated with |
| Personally I like the idea of fuel efficient hybrid | | | | these sorts of collision, as a by product this would |
| cars, and fuel cell cars emitting nothing but water. | | | | also reduce the top heavy nature of trucks and |
| However, like most enthusiasts I also like | | | | SUVs and rollover accidents could be avoided. |
| powerful loud convertibles with with the ability to | | | | Sensors will be increasingly responsible for |
| snap a vertabrae at 10 paces. A sensible mix | | | | predicting and safeguarding against avoidable |
| therefore is required and this will be the job | | | | accidents. Sensors will monitor the road surface |
| entrusted to car designers and engineers of the | | | | scanning for black ice and hazardous conditions, |
| future, to make a politically correct car that is also | | | | this information will then be displayed to the driver |
| desirable. | | | | and the vehicle may take appropriate steps to |
| Another immenent problem facing designers of | | | | improve traction thus reducing the chance of an |
| the future is coming up with styling ideas that are | | | | accident. The information gathered may also be |
| fresh and new. Some of the more recent | | | | relayed to a central road monitoring network |
| concepts are certainly striking but not necessarily | | | | which can inform other motorists of changing |
| beautiful in the classic sense of the word. But if | | | | weather conditions, in effect every vehicle would |
| there is one thing the automobile industry is good | | | | become a roving weather station. |
| at that is innovation, and I for one am confident | | | | Sensors will also monitor the cars position on the |
| that radical and extreme concepts never before | | | | road and if the vehicle is found to be straying |
| imagined will continue to appear at motorshows | | | | from the road or traffic lane an alarm would |
| around the world. | | | | sound this feature is already found on the Citroen |
| Computer technology has already taken a firm | | | | C4 amongst others. Sensors could also monitor |
| hold of the automobile and the modern driver is | | | | the drivers well-being, imaging sensors would track |
| less and less responsible for the actions of their | | | | eye movement and if the eyes close for more |
| vehicle, soon crash victims will try to sue the | | | | than a few seconds an alarm would sound to alert |
| electronics companies for accidents they caused | | | | the driver. Audi uses sensors on its new A6 which |
| because their computer system failed to brake | | | | monitor for wet conditions, if found the BOSCH |
| the car even though they were fast asleep at the | | | | brakes are applied intermittently to wipe off the |
| wheel on a three lane highway. Until you have | | | | water and ensure good contact when they are |
| automation of every single vehicle on every single | | | | needed, the pressure applied in this process is so |
| road computer driven cars are just not feasible, in | | | | slight the driver does not notice. Improved night |
| my mind there are just far too many on-the-road | | | | vision and spatial awareness would help cut down |
| variables, with all the logic in the world you cannot | | | | on night time crashes which account for half the |
| beat a brain. Now computer assisted driving is | | | | road related fatalities each year even though only |
| already available in certain Mercedes models which | | | | a quarter of all driving occurs at night. Cadillac |
| brake for you if your not looking where your | | | | already includes infrared night vision as an option |
| going and your too close to the car in front, but | | | | on some of its more desirable models, infrared |
| there is still a driver in control of the car, or is | | | | vision does not see light it sees heat and the |
| there. What if for some reason you wanted to | | | | warmer an object is the more it stand out on the |
| get closer to the car in front, you needed to get | | | | screen. The screen is a heads up display |
| closer to the car, if you didn't get closer to the | | | | projected onto the windscreen infront of the |
| car something terrible would happen to civilization. | | | | drivers line of sight allowing the driver to see the |
| Where do you draw the line with vehicle | | | | real world and also the digital projection. Honda |
| automation? | | | | has a similar system with the added ability to |
| In advanced cities of the future CCTV will be so | | | | identify objects and pick out pedestrians and |
| prevalent that visible crimes such as car theft are | | | | digitally highlight those which are likely to step into |
| all but wiped out, but that still won't stop the | | | | the vehicles path and then emit an audible warning. |
| determined thief. GPS (Global Positioning System) | | | | New materials are constantly brought into the |
| units fitted as standard to all new automobiles will | | | | automotive field, in 2005 Chrysler Daimler began |
| be able to track any vehicle at anytime | | | | using biological composite materials made from |
| anywhere, this technology is already common but | | | | coconut, sisal, jute and other plants. This biological |
| more widespread use is inevitable. In the UK the | | | | material is used mostly on the interior of the car |
| government is already talking about fitting GPS to | | | | and finds its way into seat cushions, seat backs, |
| charge motorists depending on what road they | | | | underfloor body panels and interior door panels. |
| travel on and at what times to cut spiraling | | | | One of the benefits of using these biological |
| congestion. This technology coupled with an | | | | compounds is that they can be recycled and |
| improved mobile phone and bluetooth network | | | | reused and the manufacturing process involved is |
| can be used to track and recover stolen vehicles. | | | | far more environmentally friendly than that of |
| When the vehicle is found to be stolen a call can | | | | conventional synthetic compounds. Ceramics first |
| be made which shuts down the engine of the car. | | | | used in braking by Porsche are becoming |
| At the same time a call is sent out which alerts | | | | increasingly popular, although still very expensive |
| available nearby police, by using the GPS installed | | | | limiting them to exclusive vehicles. The benefits of |
| in both the stolen car and the police car officers | | | | using ceramics is their high tolerance to intense |
| can track the car even if they cannot see it. The | | | | heat making them suitable for high performance |
| police will also have much more insight into a | | | | vehicles, and where the heavy use of the brakes |
| vehicles record when out on patrol, using | | | | is needed regularly. Their ability to perform under |
| bluetooth technology a police car can tail a vehicle | | | | these extremes help reduce the brake fade |
| and receive information on the owner, the current | | | | associated with exessive use and high |
| driver and their driving history, and even find out | | | | temperatures. Materials first such as carbon fibre |
| recent top speed and acceleration figures. Of | | | | and carbon kevlar first used on race cars and |
| course who wants that, you think you've just had | | | | famed for their high strength and lightweight |
| a fun little blast on your favorite bit of road you | | | | properties have now filtered down to the |
| get pulled over five miles later and the officer | | | | production car level, mainly in high-end vehicles but |
| gives you a speeding ticket for something he | | | | in due time these composites will begin to appear |
| didn't see. But if this technology is mandatory | | | | in the average car, cutting weight and increasing |
| then what choice do you have. | | | | fuel economy whilst maintaining structural rigidity. |
| Access to future automobiles may be very | | | | In the future car designers will have to explore |
| different to the keys of today, push button code | | | | new themes and find alternative influences for |
| entry and keycard systems where the key | | | | their designs. In an effort to catch peoples eye |
| doesn't even leave you pocket, already available, | | | | the designs will have to be increasingly bold and |
| will become common place. You hear the term | | | | brash often sacrificing the aesthetic balance of the |
| keyless entry but it still uses a remote control | | | | design in attempt to be different in an increasingly |
| attached to a key which is then used to start the | | | | 'done before' market. This is not to say all designs |
| car. Biometrics which are available on some | | | | are going to be hideous, just some. Another |
| computer systems and use fingerprinting as a | | | | influence to exterior design will be made by law as |
| password could be an effective alternative to the | | | | stricter pedestrian protection laws are enforced |
| key, you could even program it for members of | | | | requiring the front ends of cars to be 'softer', this |
| your family deciding between access only for the | | | | thinking has already been introduced on some |
| children or access and drive functions for those | | | | models, overall though it is difficult to project how |
| with licenses. However I belive it will be some | | | | this will ultimately affect the face of car design. |
| time before this is the only means of vehicle | | | | With the increased use of alternative fuel sources |
| entry or start up, what if you are lending your | | | | such as the hydrogen fuel cell and hydrogen |
| car to a friend and you cannot be present to | | | | combustion engine, vehicle bodies may begin |
| allow start up. | | | | reflect the green nature of their power. However |
| Multimedia systems will continue to develop in cars | | | | I belive this to be a mistake. The Honda Insight |
| until the point where the "are we there yet" | | | | Hybrid might have been more of a success had it |
| phrase develops into "can we stay here". | | | | not been utterly repulsive, people were already |
| Manufacturers are continuing to cram more and | | | | wary of its power source and to then make |
| more video screens into increasingly ingenious | | | | them vomit in disgust at its styling is just not |
| places providing a rolling cinematic Dolby 7.0 | | | | intelligent. Why do all the eco-friendly cars look like |
| surround sound experience. DVDs are going to go | | | | a 60's psychedelic nightmare, why can't they just |
| the way of the VCR with hard disk recording of | | | | look like a decent concept car with an alternative |
| video being the dominant power much as MP3s | | | | engine. Things seem to be improving however and |
| are killing off CDs. This MP4 technology will save | | | | BMW's H2R is an undeniably stunning vehicle if |
| space in the car and allow for far more footage | | | | somewhat impractical. And hybrid technology is |
| to be kept on board. Improvements in wireless | | | | finding its way into mainstream prodution vehicles |
| Internet connections could mean that the larger | | | | as an optional power source. |
| roads can support Internet capable vehicles and | | | | The interior of vehicles will also change, becoming |
| constantly inform the driver with up to date | | | | more user friendly and personalised. Ergonomically |
| relevant road information. A screen in the dash | | | | positioned controls and lumbar support seats with |
| can display live images to show traffic reports | | | | adjustable everything will come as standard to |
| and also predict traffic jams by using the GPS | | | | increase driver and passenger comfort and |
| systems in all vehicles to show areas where | | | | reduce chronic pain and discomfort. Customisable |
| vehicles have been stopped or are congested, | | | | and personalised interior space will also become |
| and then supply alternate routes. The sound | | | | desirable features on the future automobile. Just |
| systems of cars will also improve and become | | | | as you swap mobile phone covers an entire dash |
| more personalised for the various passengers, | | | | could be swapped to match your mood, if your a |
| with headphone sockets and multiple sound | | | | little bigger than average why not fit an XXL seat |
| outlets, there might be four different radio | | | | in two easy steps, the possibilities will be endless |
| stations that can be played at once through the | | | | in order to cater for an increasingly demanding |
| different jacks, and a variety of MP3s that can be | | | | consumer. |
| played at once. | | | | Alternative power sources for vehicles are |
| Passenger safety is already a priority for modern | | | | becoming ever more popular. Government |
| day car manufacturers and this will only increase | | | | incentives will eventually force all but the super |
| in importance into the future. The widespread use | | | | rich into environmentally friendly cars, no problem, |
| of airbags will increase, the side impact protection | | | | by then fuel cell cars will be just as rapid as their |
| airbags featured in some models have proved to | | | | fossil fuel counterparts but with none of the mess |
| be extremely effective in saving lives, more | | | | or stench. However it may take some convincing |
| research and better positioning will continue to | | | | to get a 'petrol head' to put down his piston and |
| improve their performance and reliability. Airbags | | | | pick up a proton exchange membrane cathode, its |
| at the moment can only be deployed once so in a | | | | just not the same is it. Eventually common |
| multiple collision crash their effectiveness is voided | | | | conventional fuel cars will become classics and |
| after the first impact, future airbag systems | | | | extremely sought after by collectors, but not for |
| however may take this into consideration and | | | | a long long time. |